A final year accounting student at the university of Benin has attempted Suicide. Compass Newspaper reporter visited the scene and discovered that the girl took the deadly sniper but was immediately rushed to the hospital where it was revealed that she has taken an illicit substance called sniper

Her hostel mate reports that “the girl took sniper but she was very lucky that people took notice very early and she has been rushed to the University of Benin teaching hospital, UBTH, where she has been placed on oxygen for treatment. But we really do not know what the result will be. ‘Na sniper dey reign na ’,”

The University’s spokesperson, Mr Michael Osasuyi said they received the report of an attempted suicide by one of their students and confirmed that the person is receiving treatment in UBTH.

At the time of our investigation , it remains unclear whether her suicide attempt is socially motivated or education related.

The incidents of suicide a and the use of “sniper” appears to be on the rise in Nigeria .

In March 2019 a 500-level student of the Department of Computer Engineering was found dangling from the roof of his room at Ekosodin Community in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of the state.

The deceased had earlier visited his department Thursday evening to submit an assignment and went back home.

Later, his friends who had unsuccessfully tried to contact him went to his house.

In Ekiugbo, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State a young girl named Loveth, a university admission-seeker took her life because she was unhappy with the 163 mark she got in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

A Niger Delta University student, Aduba Daniel also committed suicide by drinking Sniper after he discovered he had ‘carryover’ in his courses.

Ayomide and Ajani Damilola of University of Lagos were reported to have killed themselves using the insecticide following the accusations that they stole clothes in their hostel.

Another 32-year-old banker and mother of two, identified as Peace, of Ughelli, Delta State, committed suicide over her husband’s alleged infidelity. She also took Sniper.

In Nigeria, Sniper, which is an insecticide seems to be serving another purpose, it seems.

Many cases of suicides reported in recent months are carried out through the use of the substance. Some are unreported.

“The first thing that comes to people’s mind when the thought of suicide comes is sniper,” says a respondent.

The lethargy of the authorities in observing this and the easy access many have to this substance is creating anxiety in some quarters.

According to World Health Organisation (WHO), it estimated that the method used for 20 per cent of global suicides was through pesticide self-poisoning, “most of which occurred in rural agricultural areas in low- and middle-income countries”.

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Mary Osaze is a highly acclaimed talent in picture books. She graduated from the University of Benin in 2009 and has since been working in the media industry. Although she lives in the UK in reality, in her mind she lives very close to her fatherland,Nigeria.